​​​LAKE TRAVIS - The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) opened a floodgate at Mansfield Dam on Lake Travis for the first time since 2007. ​

The agency begins floodgate releases when the elevation of Lake Travis exceeds or is projected to exceed 681 feet. As of April 25 the lake was at 684.12 feet.

"U.S. ​Army Corps of Engineers protocols determine how much water LCRA may release, depending on how much water is in the Lake Travis flood pool and downstream c​onditions," an LCRA news release stated.

"Releases from the dam generally increase when Lake Travis is projected to rise to higher levels. However, releases may be halted or reduced, depending on flood levels measured at three river gauges located downstream of the dam at Austin, Bastrop and Columbus."

Water was not flowing over the Mansfield Dam spillway. Water would flow over the Mansfield Dam spillway in an uncontrolled release if the level of Lake Travis rises above 714 feet, the release stated.

Floodgates were open at Buchanan, Wirtz, Starcke and Tom Miller Dams as well, with the floodgate flow at Tom Miller Dam increased to accommodate the heightened flow entering Lake Austin upstream from Mansfield Dam, the release stated.

"The last time Lake Travis was full was back in April of 2010," LCRA Chief Meteorologist Bob Rose said. "It was a little over 681 feet at that time."

"If the weather stays wet—which we think it will—at least for the next couple of months, the level of the lake isn't going to change all that much," Rose said.

He said "bone-dry" weather, a repeat of 2011, is not expected in the area.​